Downhole tool for removing a casing portion

Abstract

A packoff device is disclosed for sealing an annulus within a wellbore, and for bypassing the sealed annulus. The packoff device may include a mandrel having a bore formed axially therethrough and first and second ports extending radially from the bore. A sealing element that extends radially-outwardly from the mandrel may be positioned axially between the first and second ports, and may create a seal within an annulus between the mandrel and a casing, to isolate a portion of the annulus above the sealing element from a portion below the sealing element. A sleeve within the bore may, with the mandrel, form a channel providing fluid communication between the first and second ports. The sleeve may be movable between open and closed states. The first and second ports may be unobstructed by the sleeve in the open state, one or more may be obstructed in the closed state.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A packoff device, comprising:
 a mandrel having an axial bore, a first port, and a second port, wherein the first port and the second port extend radially from the axial bore to an exterior surface of the mandrel, the first port and the second port being positioned axially between uphole and downhole ends of the mandrel; 
 a sealing element extending radially-outward from the mandrel between the first port and the second port; and 
 a sleeve configured to selectively move relative to the mandrel to open and close fluid communication between the first port and the second port through a channel formed radially between the mandrel and the sleeve, the sleeve being movable between at least:
 a first configuration in which flow from an annulus around the mandrel and below the sealing element is permitted to flow axially upwardly through the sealing element into an annulus around the mandrel and above the sealing element, wherein the sleeve in the first configuration is configured to open fluid communication between the first port and the second port via the channel; and 
 a second configuration in which flow from the annulus around the mandrel and below the sealing element is blocked from flowing axially upwardly through the sealing element and into the annulus around the mandrel and above the sealing element, wherein the sleeve in the second configuration is configured to obstruct at least one of the first port and the second port. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The packoff device of  claim 1 , the sealing element-comprising one or more swab cups having downward facing lips. 
     
     
       3. The packoff device of  claim 1 , the sealing element configured to reduce an outer diameter thereof when inserted into, and sealing against, a casing. 
     
     
       4. The packoff device of  claim 1 , the sleeve being positioned inside the mandrel. 
     
     
       5. The packoff device of  claim 1 , further comprising a biasing element biasing the sleeve toward the first or second configuration. 
     
     
       6. The packoff device of  claim 5 , the biasing element acting on the sleeve while in the first and second configurations and biasing the sleeve toward the first configuration. 
     
     
       7. The packoff device of  claim 1 , further comprising a seat within the bore, the seat configured to receive an impediment to cause fluid pressure to build behind the impediment and thereby move the sleeve between the first and second configurations. 
     
     
       8. The packoff device of  claim 7 , the sleeve being configured to move with the seat. 
     
     
       9. The packoff device of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more seals coupled to the sleeve, the one or more seals configured to restrict fluid flow through the sealing element when the sleeve is in the second configuration, and not to restrict fluid flow through the sealing element when the sleeve is in the first position. 
     
     
       10. The packoff device of  claim 9 , the one or more seals blocking radial flow through at least one of the first port and the second port when the sleeve is in the second position. 
     
     
       11. A downhole tool, comprising:
 a packoff device having a body defining an axial bore and a sealing element coupled to the body and configured to seal against an interior surface of wellbore casing, the packoff device configured to selectively move between:
 a closed configuration in which the sealing element maintains a seal with the wellbore casing in an annulus between the body and the wellbore casing, and in which fluid flow is permitted downwardly through the bore but is blocked upwardly from a portion of the annulus below the sealing element to a portion of the annulus above the sealing element; and 
 an open configuration in which the sealing element maintains the seal with the wellbore casing and fluid is permitted to flow downwardly through the bore and upwardly from the portion of the below the sealing element to the portion of the annulus above the sealing element; 
 
 an engagement device coupled to the packoff device and configured to restrict axial movement of the downhole tool relative to the wellbore casing; and 
 a casing cutter coupled to, and axially below, the packoff device and the engagement device. 
 
     
     
       12. The downhole tool of  claim 11 , wherein when the packoff device is in the open configuration, the packoff device enables fluid flow from the portion of the annulus below the sealing element, axially through one or more flow channels radially within the sealing element, and into the portion of the annulus above the sealing element. 
     
     
       13. The downhole tool of  claim 12 , wherein when the packoff device is in the closed configuration, the packoff device blocks fluid from entering the one or more flow channels for axial flow therein. 
     
     
       14. The downhole tool of  claim 11 , further comprising a circulation sub configured to selectively allow fluid flow from an interior of the downhole tool into the annulus. 
     
     
       15. A method for circulating fluid in a wellbore, comprising:
 running a downhole tool into a casing, the downhole tool including a packoff device and a casing cutter, the packoff device including a sealing element having a diameter about equal to an inner diameter of the casing while running the downhole tool into the casing; 
 flowing fluid through an interior of the packoff device, into a first annulus between the downhole tool and the casing, and from a portion of the first annulus below the sealing element, into an interior of the sealing element, and out of the packoff device to a portion of the first annulus above the sealing element; 
 using the casing cutter to form an opening in the casing; 
 after forming the opening in the casing, blocking fluid flow from the portion of the first annulus below the sealing element from flowing through the interior of the sealing element and into the portion of the first annulus above the sealing element; and 
 while blocking the fluid flow, flowing fluid from the portion of the first annulus below the sealing element through the opening in the casing, into a second annulus around the casing, and upwardly within the second annulus toward a surface of the wellbore. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , the downhole tool further including an engagement device and the method further comprising:
 activating the engagement device and thereby engaging the downhole tool with the casing and restricting relative movement between the downhole tool and the casing. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein engaging the downhole tool with the casing includes engaging a portion of the casing above the opening in the casing. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising pulling the portion of the casing above the opening at least partially out of the wellbore. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the sealing element is malleable and maintains the seal against the interior surface of wellbore casing while running the downhole tool into the casing. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 15 , wherein blocking fluid flow includes moving a sleeve and one or more seals coupled to the sleeve to restrict fluid flow from entering one or more axial flow channels within the sealing element.